Advocacy

The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce stands as a powerful voice on behalf of businesses, helping to drive business-friendly policy changes and collaborating with all levels of government.

The importance of advocacy.

While businesses are busy creating jobs and driving our economy, they deserve to have a strong voice representing them in public policy conversations. The Chamber puts the business community at the table, working alongside government officials and community partners on ways to eliminate barriers to economic growth. We help public officials – and the public at large, when necessary – understand how businesses would be affected by particular policies and try to bring a fiscally responsible, community-minded perspective to policy negotiations.

We advocate at every level of government.

Because the Chamber is funded exclusively by our business community, The Chamber can advocate freely at every level of government – local, state, and federal. We testify and lobby on a wide range of policies that impact businesses in Albuquerque and New Mexico. On sector-specific issues and matters of general interest to the business community, the Chamber is a prominent and effective voice.

What does advocacy look like?

The Chamber deploys a variety of tactics and strategies to bring the business community’s perspective to the public debate.

Testimony

We attend and represent business in legislative hearings and in front of local bodies, like the City Council

Policy Meetings and Negotiations

We host and are appointed to task forces on various issues and have negotiated legislation on everything from infrastructure spending to the ethics commission and PRC reform

Signature Events with Leaders, Thinkers, and Experts

Prominent leaders from New Mexico and around the country provide important perspectives at Chamber-hosted events

Social Media

We weigh in on platforms like Facebook, X, and LinkedIn to advocate for specific policies

Breaking News and Calls to Action

We keep businesses informed of government actions and urge their communication with elected leaders during important policy debates.

Policy Campaigns

Occasionally, we run campaigns to win voter approval – or disapproval, in some cases – of certain policy issues on the ballot

Letters to Government Leaders and Agencies

We express the Chamber’s formal positions in letters to leaders on everything from criminal justice reforms to charter school applications

Board Meetings

We invite elected leaders, government officials, and policy experts to address the Board and hear our perspective on important matters; the Board also adopts strategic plans for our BIG committees and endorses specific policy positions

Op-Eds and Press Conferences

We communicate through the media, alongside our various partners, on important issues in the community, offering the well thought-out perspective of business leaders

Best-Practice Visits

We lead delegations of local officials to other parts of the country to explore how cities and states have addressed similar challenges to the ones we face

Federal Advocacy

We routinely meet with federal agencies and our elected leaders in Washington, D.C.

Principal Preparation Study

We believe leadership matters – especially in our schools. Thanks to a generous grant from the Thornburg Foundation, the Chamber commissioned a study into national best practices for preparing school leaders, New Mexico's existing preparation programs, and how the state can improve its programs to strengthen new principals and administrators. View the final report that includes recommendations for New Mexico's executive education leadership, Legislature, and philanthropic community here.

Read the Report

Legislative Updates

The Chamber adopts a legislative agenda prior to each session and keeps investors very well-informed about what happens at the Roundhouse. View our latest Legislative Summary and past agendas by clicking below.

Read our Updates